Kostaq Kotta, also known as Koço Kotta (5 May 1886 – 1 September 1947), was an

Albanian Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

politician and twice

prime minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is not ...

during the reign of

King Zog King is the title given to a male monarch in a variety of contexts. The female equivalent is queen, which title is also given to the consort of a king. *In the context of prehistory, antiquity and contemporary indigenous peoples, the t ...

, who took a pro-Italian right-wing stance.

Biography

He was educated in Greece and Italy. In the

Principality of Albania The Principality of Albania ( al, Principata e Shqipërisë or ) refers to the short-lived monarchy in Albania, headed by Wilhelm, Prince of Albania, that lasted from the Treaty of London of 1913 which ended the First Balkan War, through ...

, he served as the minister of public works and was elected to the

Parliament of Albania The Parliament of Albania ( sq, Kuvendi i Shqipërisë) or Kuvendi is the unicameral representative body of the citizens of the Republic of Albania; it is Albania's legislature. The Parliament is composed of no less than 140 members elected to a ...

. During the June Revolution of

Fan Noli Theofan Stilian Noli, known as Fan Noli (6 January 1882 – 13 March 1965), was an Albanian writer, scholar, diplomat, politician, historian, orator, Archbishop, Metropolitan and founder of the Albanian Orthodox Church and the Albanian Orthodox ...

, Kotta escaped to Greece, but returned to lead the insurgency against Noli that led to the formation of the

Albanian Republic Albanian may refer to: *Pertaining to Albania in Southeast Europe; in particular: **Albanians, an ethnic group native to the Balkans **Albanian language **Albanian culture **Demographics of Albania, includes other ethnic groups within the country ...

under

Ahmet Zogu Zog I ( sq, Naltmadhnija e tij Zogu I, Mbreti i Shqiptarëve, ; 8 October 18959 April 1961), born Ahmed Muhtar bey Zogolli, taking the name Ahmet Zogu in 1922, was the leader of Albania from 1922 to 1939. At age 27, he first served as Albania's y ...

. He became the speaker of the parliament during Zogu’s presidency and then Prime Minister after Zogu established the Albanian Kingdom. During his first term, he introduced civil code laws based on the Napoleonic model. In 1936, he headed the government again until resigning after the

Italian invasion of Albania The Italian invasion of Albania (April 7–12, 1939) was a brief military campaign which was launched by the Kingdom of Italy against the Albanian Kingdom in 1939. The conflict was a result of the imperialistic policies of the Italian prime m ...

. He was a member of

Mustafa Merlika-Kruja Mustafa Merlika-Kruja (March 15, 1887, Akçahisar, Ottoman Empire (modern-day Krujë, Albania) – December 27, 1958, Niagara Falls, New York) was one of the signatories of the Albanian Declaration of Independence. He served as Prime Minister ...

's cabinet in 1941.''Albania at war, 1939–1945'', p. 116,

Bernd Jürgen Fischer Bernd Jürgen Fischer (born 27 January 1952) is historian and professor of history at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. He received his Ph.D. in 1982 from the University of California, Santa Barbara The University of Californi ...

, C Hurst & Co Publishers Ltd, 1999

/ref> He accompanied Zog into exile in Greece. In December 1944 he was captured by Greek Communists and returned to Albania. He was sentenced to lifelong imprisonment by the Communism in Albania, Albanian Communists's Special Court of Spring 1945. He died in

Burrel Prison Burrel Prison () is a high security prison located outside the town of Burrel, in northeastern Albania at the District Police Station in Mat with a maximum capacity of 198 inmates. In 2011 the prison housed 182 inmates and employed 120 corrections ...

in 1947 as a result of torture.

References

1889 births 1949 deaths People from Korçë People from Manastir vilayet Albanians from the Ottoman Empire Mayors of Korçë Government ministers of Albania Prime Ministers of Albania Public Works ministers of Albania Albanian collaborators with Fascist Italy Albanian people who died in prison custody Prisoners who died in Albanian detention Albanian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment Prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment by Albania Speakers of the Parliament of Albania Members of the Parliament of Albania Heads of government who were later imprisoned {{Albania-politician-stub

Biography

See also

References